Audible signaling device for use with tanks



F. P. SCULLY ETA-L AUDIBLE SIGNALING DEVICE FOR USE W ITHTANKS July 15, 1941.

Filed Sept. 26.1959

am. a a. m w wn mu my n A i'ull provisionv positioned in the vent pipe,

. appear more atented July 15, 1941 'AUDIBLE SIGNALING DEVICE non Us wrrn TANK Frank P. Scnlly. Cambridge, and Alcide Edward ass Mathey, Signal 00.,

Anbnrndale. Mass East Cambridge, Mass.,

tion of Massachusetts 14 Claims.

' This invention relates to means for indicating the liquid level vin a tank during the filling thereof.

ignore to Scull! Application September 26, 1939, Serial No. 296,554

One of the objects of our invention is to pro- 7 vide audible indicating means which may be attached to an existing struction which other signaling means at present available.

In the art of audible signaling means for indicating the point of a rising liquid level in a tank it is now common means in which there gases being expelled filling operatiombut is a whistle operated by the from the tank during the at the same time to make whistle has been rendered inoperative or operative, as the-case may be, after the liquid level has risen to the predetermined point.

In the ordinary installation, whether domestic or commercial, the fill pipe and vent pipe, which are ,connected to the tank, terminate in generally the same location so that if the operator at the fill pipe will be suihciently close to the vent pipe to hear readily the signaling sound In some instances,

have been terminated at a point remote from the fill pipes so that any signaling device positioned inthe vent pipe would give of! a sound so remote from the operator at the not be heard. Hence in those situations it is necessary to provide other operator. 7

Our invention is therefore directed to the provision oisignallngmeanswhichmaybeusedin connection with existing eq p ent in which the fill pipe and vent pipe terminate at widely separated points. It is further contemplated that the signaling-means may be installed without alteration of the tank and without any substantial installation difllculties with respect .to the building in which the tank is located.

These and other objects or our, invention will rullyas the explanation proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawing in which: r

Fig.1isadia ticviewofanoiltanka'nd the filling, venting and signaling connections in relation to the building in which the tank is "posi tioned. V

Fig. 2 is a detail of the signaling imit and of the fitting utilized to connect the tank with the signaling mechanism.

installation of a conwould preclude the utilization'of for continued venting after the however, either byintent or because 0! local ordinances, the vent pipes I to utilize audible signaling a signaling device is stick for the manual tank, as at close by a screw plug, and a fourth fill pipe that it could" means which will produce an audible signal which can be heard by the ceases. The,iipper end to the outside Fig. 3 is a. detail of the relief valve on the vent pipe.

could not be heard by the operator at fill pipe 6.

Connected to a third opening in the pipe l0 having therein an audible signaling device or whistle such as 12. shown in Fig. 2. This whistle is of the button type, lower apertures l3 and I4, and constructed to produce adequate sound at low pressures.

In order that pipe It may to the tank 2, we have provided a fitting i5 oi. the type shown mm. 4. In the average oil tank or this type, in addition to the filling and venting connections there is a third stick hole, through which may be inserted a measurement of oil in the It in Fig. 2, which it is customary to opening, not shown, usually having therein an oil level gauge, Into opening I is screwed the threaded at I8 for engagement with the threads on the tank, and has a tube 20 extending downwardly. therefrom. The length of this tube controls the time ,at which operation of the whistle ot the fitting ll is'internaliy threaded at 22, and the opening is closed by a screw plug 2|.

A passage 26 extends fitting and is adapted for connection with pipe it. It will be apparent from this construction that it it is desired to measure the depth of the oil by inserting a stick into the tank in the customary manner, the screw plug 24 may be removed and the stick inserted through the fitting into the tank.

The location of whistle I! in pipe I! is immaterial as any sound emanating therefrom can be heard readily-whether outerend or pipe III, as shown. tank. Means, not shown, would vided to keep pipes 6 and It.

or closer to the normally be prorain from entering the ends of the application or our device,

device were posi-' the sound emanating thereirom with upper and be readily connected opening called a through the side of the the whistle be near the pose of which will tective cap 33,

' tached to the end ing thereof and also pressures of such low degree as to be insuflicient to force liquid out mally it would vent through pipe 8, but due to the fact that disk 34 closes the end of pipe 8 termined point, resistance through intrusion tube 20, passage 26,

. pipe 10 and whistle I! to the atmosphere. Thus,

immediately upon the commencement of filling through pipe 6, whistle I2 comes into operation. As long as the liquid level is below the lower end of intrusion tube 20, gas will continue to pass out through the whistle, indicating to the operator that the level is still below the final desired point.

Immediately, "however, that the tube 28, the

clude any dangerous pressures'developing, venting maythereafter take place through-ventpipe 8 as soon as the pressure its seat on the end oivent pipe 8.

pressure may thereafter be developed in the tank,

liquid level associated parts conif necessary and to preno liquldor gas may escape through the signaling vent. In any event, however, the intention is through the remote vent pipe 8.

A construction to accomplish this result is shown in Fig. 4 in which the fitting l5 terminates in a valve seat 48. This seat is adapted to be engaged and closed by valve 42, which is controlled by float 44 connected thereto. Thus, as the liquid level rises, upon reaching float 44 the latter will 1. In combination, a tank having a fill pipe and a vent pipe, means external of said tank separating the end a tank having connected thereto, one pipe for use in in: operation.

3. The combination escape of gases level has trapped the lower end ofthe tube, the outer ends of said three pipes the tank above the venting and relief of exce 'termined point, and a pressure lief means being widely separated while the outer end of said tube and audible signal is in proximity to said filling opening.

4. The combination with a closed fluid tank.

' of a supply conduit leading into the tank, a vent tube leading out of the tank with its inner open end at a predetermined distance below the top of the tank, an audible signal device communicating with the vent tube and designed to be continuously actuated by the escape of gas or -duit has been trapped by an automatically operable independent vent from inner end of the vent tube normally operable to cause venting through the tube and audible signal until rising liquid level traps the end of the tube, and thereafter with rising liquid level operable to permit continued ssive pressure, ends of said supply conduit and'said independent vent being widely separated while said vent tube and audible signal terminate in proximity to said filling opening.. g

5. In combination, a tank having three pipes connected thereto, one pipe for use in filling said tank, a second pipe for primary from said tank during the filling thereof, means operable by buoyant means controlled by the rising liquid level for alteringthe venting capacity of said second pipe, and a third pipe for venting gas from said tank as the liquid level rises beyond the level at which the venting capacity of said second pipe is altered.

6. The combination as set forth in claim which said second pipe has an device contained therein operable during filling until said buoyant means is moved bya rising liquid level and in which said third pipehasa the outer audible signaling venting of gas valve maintaining saidpipe normally closed, said a said whistle, means for altering a building structures tank and,

said fill pipe, a whistle in said sigremote wall of said the fiow of venting gas through said signaling pipe when the liquid'level in said tank has risen toa prede- .operable .valve but operable to tank exceeds a normally closing said vent pipe open when'the pressure in said predetermined degree.

8. In combination, a building structure, a tank therein, a fill pipe connected to said tank and exwhich opening said tending through a wall of said building, a vent pipe connected through a remote wall to said tank and extending of said building, a signaltank and extending of said building to a point in to-said fill pipe, a signaling device positioned in said signaling pipe exterior oi! said building, means 'for altering the fiow of gas through said signaling pipe when the liquid level in said tank has risen to a predetermined point, and a pressure operable valve closing said vent ipe. I p 9. The combination in a. closed tank having a filling conduit and a plurality'of venting conduits, of a liquid level indicator, comprising a first venting conduit originating below" the top of the proximity extending tank, a gas-operated sign'al in communication with said first venting conduit and designed to be continuously actuated: until the tank end of said conduit is trapped by rising liquid level, and a second venting conduit of such resistance to therethrough as to divert suillactuate said signal until said first venting conrislng-iiquid level, said second venting conduit adapted thereafter to, vent gases independently, the outer ends of said filling conduit and said being widely separated, while the outer ends of said filling conduit and said first venting conduit are in proximity to each other.

10. In combination, a tank, a fill pipe con nected to said tank and I position, a vent pipe connected to said tankand to a venting position at a point remote from the extended end of said fill" pipe, 'a signaling pipe connected to said tank-and extending to a point in p'roximity'to the outer end fill. pipe, a whistle in series with said signaling pipe; means for changing the flow of gas through said signaling pipe when the liquid level has risen to. predeterminedpoint, the effective distancebetween the outer ends of said fill pipe and said vent pipe being so great that aid whistle could not be heard from one to the g for providing suflicient resistance to the passage of gas in said vent pipe to insure the fiow of an adequate volume of as through to produce a sound said 1111 pipe,

11, The combination in a closed tank having filling and vent o nlngs, of a liquid level indicator' comprising aj tube and tubular member of which the latt r projects downwardly from one th ntqdp ninss. a 'gasqoperated signal in communicationwith the tube and: designed to be I t ,he ilcwer;end of the is trappe }brtria sr n dileve and relief means located-above thelowerend of the tubular member designedl to permit the escape of gase'swhem level has trapped the lower end of the tubular member, the outer ends;of-.,sai'd :filling opening and relief means the outer end of said tube is in her in removable engagement therewith, opening extending laterallythroughthe'wall said tubular member 'externallyiof tubeis connected.

12. In combination, connected thereto, one

pipe foruse' venting gas from said tank as the liquid beyond said predetermined level, said second pipe having an audible signali gdevice contained therein operable during filling mined level, means associated with of said second therethroush when the predetermined nal given by said signaling device,1 7 having a'valve maintaining said pipe normally closed but operable to open when the-pressure in said tank. exceeds a predetermined degree, the

said predetermined pressure being insuflicient to second ve ting conduit 7 extending to a filling h said whistle during normal fillingaudible at the outer end of independently a I the rising liquid being" 'wlaelr separated while m ms: to an! a for connectingsfldfi bu a tan k,t 'a liquid-tight cover ig'aid tank, to

a} tank-having three pipes to said predeter- 1 level and thereby to alter the signal end at a point remote cause overflow through said second pipe after the latter has been'afl'ected as the result of liquid pipe having its terminal end in proximity to said filling pipe and said third pipe having its termiduring the filling operati 13. In combination, a tank having a filling conpoint.

RANK P. SCULLY. ALCIDE EDWARD MA'I'HEY. 

